This is a kind of poem that sums up the dream I have for the city I call my home, Lincoln. Its adapted from the last book of the bible, the book of Revelation and the idea was taken from a talk I heard last year by Steve Chalke (http://www.faithworks.info/)
Revelation 21
It was 8 o clock on Monday morning,
I was walking down steep hill, looking out across the city
And I saw a new Lincoln coming down from the heavens
I saw a teenager leaping out of bed with joy, laughing at the freshness of the morning
I saw elderly ladies skipping down Monks Rd and up through the arboretum
I saw children paddling and splashing in the Brayford Pool
I saw a football match in Boutlham Park and the teams were mixed people from every people group, students, homeless people, bus drivers, polish workers, prisoners, politicians. People from every race and class laughing in the sun.
I saw a street party, where the people were eating and dancing because there was hope again.
And I looked across the community of Lincoln, a community of hope, a community of grace, a community of warmth
And in the clear of the morning, I looked across to St Giles and to the Ermine and there was no more addiction, no more unwanted pregnancies, no more violence, no more squashed or damp housing and nobody was too busy.
I looked down the hill again and The Brayford Pool was sparkling with crystal clear water
There were no more broken bottles or condoms on the South Common
No more sorrow of family breakdown
No more poverty
No more need
No more cancer
No more unemployment or mind numbing jobs
No more hopelessness
No more robbery
No more bullying
No more saddened and tears, only joy and laughter
No more discrimination
No more anxiety, depression or schizophrenia
No more drunken clubbers or loud students waking families up at 3am on Newland Street West
No threats, no fears
The dividing walls were gone
Families and neighbours were restored
There was no more rubbish, no dealers, no knives, no dangerous dogs
There were no racial tensions, just one harmonious mix in technicolour
And I looked and I saw kids playing football on the streets and neighbours cheering them on.
I saw homes without locks on the doors where a welcome was always guaranteed
I saw a playground with climbing frames that weren’t rusty, where children threw themselves in the air without fear of harm, where the teenagers helped the little ones up the highest climbs.
I saw a Lincoln where neighbours shared favours and returned them without obligation or pressure
I saw a Lincoln where hearts were unbroken, partnerships are lasting, peaceful and happy.
I saw a Lincoln where families eat and play together
I saw a Lincoln where tears were wiped away.
This dream is worth living for, I'm praying it comes in to being but I want to live in a way that makes it happen too! Who is coming with me?
